Stores today are not there for you. They are there for profits. They may claim low prices, but in all truth the merchandise is usually marked up 200% or more.

I have seen some instances where cologne has been marked up 450%. This is outrageous.

Why should we pay those kinds of prices, when we can get it for free. Many stores may claim that shoplifting increases prices, but the real reasons for price increases is greed.

And remember Robin Hood, steal from the rich and give to the poor.

They won't always stop you if the sensors go off. I have set the sensors off a couple of times and they didn't do anything. No one even approached me because they didn't have proof.

I make sure to go where there are no cameras and if it has a beeper in it I go to the bathroom and cut it off. I use my kids diaper bag or my purse, it is really easy to steal from Wal-Mart until the LP (Loss Prevention) people realize you are there everyday.

I'd say it is safer to push a cart right out the front door at about 11pm.

Also there are no LP guys at Wal-Mart past 10 pm.

Also each Wal-Mart is different in which aisles have no cameras, usually the panty aisle or the toys or sometimes lawn and garden, but it's always different and the new Wal-Marts don't have as many cameras but the ones that they do have are tiny and discreet.

The LP guys will tell you that if you ever come in Wal-Mart again they will catch you because they have facial recognition software which is bull shit, I go in Wal-Mart everyday and they know me and still don't catch me.

If you run out of shampoo or something why would you waste money on it when you don't have to, or if you want a drink and have no money, don't think of it as a problem, just go to the store and get a drink.

A common technique, especially because fitting rooms aren't well monitored, is to steal garments by putting them on under your own clothes and wear them out of the store.

Best Buy, Target and Home Depot have cameras that can move, zoom, and have very high resolution. The cameras can be moved/watched by the guy at the front of the store when you walk in and in the security room.Unless they actually see you hide the item, they have no legal authority to grab you, search you, or detain you.

They are careful in who they attempt to apprehend. If they stop you, they have you dead to rights (to avoid lawsuits, they must have everything that they need before they attempt). They will also have enough that if you violently resist, they will follow you while reporting your description, vehicle, direction, etc. They will forward everything to police who, depending on how much they care, may look for you or if they have enough info (license plate/registration address) they will show up at your doorstep.

What to do if you are caught?

LP employees are taught to approach and apprehend a suspect only if they witness the suspect concealing the items and exiting the premises with the concealed items.

You’ve shoplifted items by concealing them in your secret patch pocket sewn inside your pants. You exit the store and are suddenly approached by a loss prevention employee requesting you come with them.

What the hell do you do?

Run? Verbally defend yourself? Just keep walking as normal?

It really all depends on the situation.

I really don’t recommend running.

Immediately that is.

When to Run

Unless you have a million warrants out, have more than 2 previous shoplifting charges, or are on probation you shouldn’t really run immediately.

If you run, you’re automatically saying you are guilty. Period.

If you’re the type that’ll want to run regardless, the best thing you can do is immediately seem passive and cooperative.

Immediately start walking back with LP with an “I’m sorry” look on your face. After you walk about 3 seconds back, LP will assume that you are going to cooperate and will relax, and then you can run like hell.

When To Cooperate

If you have under $30-$50 and are a first time shoplifter, you probably won’t be going to jail depending on what state you’re in. You’ll probably receive an order to appear in court with a misdemeanor petty theft charge. It’s not the end of the world. ($900. in Cali)

So if you’re a passive person by nature, you’ll be okay cooperating with them.

You want to make it appear to be a "spur of the moment," "impulse" decision to shoplift - you were just walking through the store to actually buy something, but when you saw it you decided right then to steal it, on a whim. This is the difference between your "crime" being pre-meditated or not, and depending on the jurisdiction, that can be a big difference (often distinguishing between misdemeanor and felony charges).

Don’t Try To Talk Your Way Out of It

The reason why a loss prevention employee would approach you is because they have clear evidence you shoplifted. They watched you conceal the items and walk out the store with no intention on paying for the items.

9 times out of 10, they are 100% sure where you have the items.

When you try to talk your way out of it, you’re putting everyone in a aggressive defensive mode. They’ll feel it’s clear you don’t want to admit or come back to the LP office with them, so they’ll be ready if you resist or run.

Going back to above, I recommend becoming passive immediately. Make them feel as if you’re saying “Ok you caught me, I give up”, and then run like hell!

Shoplifting for the holidays1. There are more people in the stores.

You can use crowded stores to your advantage by hiding in plain sight. On the flip side, don’t be a fucking moron and look like a thief. Dress and act the way all the other shoppers do, or else you’re going to stick out and get your ass sent to jail.2. Employees are very busy, clueless, and stressed.

Every cashier is fucking miserable during the holidays. I know this first hand as I was a cashier working holidays at a Circuit City in my teens – as mentioned in my previous post. Palm a small pricy item at checkout in plain view, I guarantee you the cashier will just be overwhelmed and trying to scan your shit as fast as possible. Same goes for the employees roaming around departments. They’re too busy to notice anything. Unless.. you’re a moron and stick out.3. Sales displays are everywhere and end caps are larger

Marketing & Advertising is in full force during holidays meaning the store is cluttered with places optimal for hiding concealment. For example, if you have a pocket sized item (let’s say a flash drive) you want to jack you walk extremely close to a display (or end cap) and pocket your item in a clean motion – almost as if you’re reaching for your phone.

While these reasons may seem obvious to some, beginner shoplifters often overlook the opportunity. Whether you’re an opportunist or leading a professional theft ring, you’re bound to find a way to use the above reasons to your advantage.Do's and Don'ts of Shoplifting1. RACIAL PROFILING: Never Wear Clothing That Will Make You a suspect.

If you look like a thug chances are store employees and LP will be up your ass every aisle you go down. The best thing for guys is get a business cut, wear a dress shirt and tie if you have one.

Even if you don’t believe someone should be judged by how they look, it doesn’t matter. What matters is what the people trying to catch you believe.

Baggy clothes in general are good places to hide stolen items. Some people have extra pockets or hooks sewn into coats and jackets.

If you’re going to steal and shoplift, seriously, don’t look like you’re going to steal and shoplift. Period.

2. Never have anything Illegal on you.

This may seem remedial. But, should you get caught or questioned, it’s best not to have anything on you that may confirm that you are a criminal with criminal intentions. Not only that, you won’t stand a chance with getting away with a “warning”.

Cops have to be called if you possess anything illegal.

Leave your illegal shit in your car or at home, if you have one.

Never have anything that could be called a "weapon" on your person while doing this - though rare, even having a pocketknife can elevate your "petty shoplifting" charge to "robbery."3. Never Bring an Empty Looking Bag or Purse

I’ve trained Loss Prevention associates to be on alert for women carrying empty or flat looking purses and men wearing empty looking or flat backpacks. The reasoning behind this is it’ll be easy to tell if the backpack/purse is filled with stolen merchandise upon exiting the store.

The baby carriage or stroller is a great tool for shoplifters. There are always blankets, toys, and other things in strollers (including the baby) that merchandise can be hidden under. Some thieves have even built false bottoms in baby carriages.A newspaper can be used to hide small objects.

Umbrellas with handles are handy for shoplifters trying to steal small items. A common tactic is to keep a closed (but not snapped) umbrella hanging on one's elbow or leaning against a counter, and then to drop items into it.4. Never look around and seem to be on alert.

Don’t make this mistake. Don’t be looking around to see if anyone is watching you. Eventually, someone will be watching you watching for other people.

Instead, seem so relaxed you could be mistaken as being tired. Slow down your pace when you walk. Remember, you’re trying to appear normal. Normal means you are just shopping and have nothing to hide or exciting going on. Just shopping.

Maybe throw in an occasional yawn, just be careful not to make them look fake.Hide in plain sight.

If a friend of yours goes with you. Have him/her dress/act very suspicious. When an employee sees someone acting suspicious they key in on that person. Soon they will have everyone in that store watching him/her. Then you go where ever the merchandise is, and steal away. You leave with whatever you want, and then your friend leaves soon after, feeling good that he/she has just fooled a store full of idiots.5. Be careful grabbing more than one of the same item.

Let’s say you’re planning to resale a shit load of batteries after stealing them from Wal-Mart. Be extremely careful of how many you get at a time.

They were caught before they even shoplifted.

Don’t be this person. Should you need to grab items in bulk, be sure not to have them in plain sight. But, at the same time, don’t make it obvious you’re trying to hide a bulk of items from being seen.

Do NOT be fooled by cameras with the name SVS. These are fakes! They do nothing but sit there. They look real by the way they have a cable going into a wall, and are plugged in and have a red light on, but they are still fake. GUARANTEED!

Do NOT be stupid enough to steal around other shoppers. I have seen many instances where the employees never saw a person shoplift, but a customer had turned a shoplifter in, and the customers word is just as incriminating as the employees.

When you start walking out the door if you see someone following you, then run for dear life. Most of the time you can get away.

If you have a get-a-way car waiting, then be sure that the license plate is covered up.

Shoplifting is an art. An art of manipulation.

With practice you’ll get good at it.

Step up your game:

Security tag detachers can be bought on the internet. If you’re at a level where you are willing to step up your shoplifting game, you may want to consider making a Booster Bag. However, understand how it’s going to look should you get apprehended. There’s not going to be a doubt in the judges mind whether you intended to steal or not.

If you’re a dude, be sure not to stick out with a man purse or sketchy looking backpack.

Here’s a quick how to video from YouTube. I recommend improvising…

Make sure that any gear you have for stealing can be reasonably passed off as something benign.

Grocery stores are probably the easiest to hit. Most have low security if any. Only problem, is that most people think the only thing you can get at a grocery store is food. WRONG!! Go over to the HBA (Health & Beauty Aids). There is gold there.

Get everything from Advil to Obsession Cologne. You ask yourself, why do i need 80 boxes of Advil? Take one box for yourself, then go sell the rest to friends, or take the stuff to a Flea Market, set yourself up a booth, and sell away. Most boxes of Advil cost around $10-$20 each.

You sell for $5-$10, and instant profit. But be careful in the HBA area, that is usually where the security will be, if any!How to return the crap you stole for the crap that you really want

Even without a receipt most stores will make exchanges if you keep it in the original packaging. Gift cards can easily be re-sold or used to get the crap that you really want. Some people will wander around a parking lot picking up receipts that other customers discarded and then steal the same products from any store and then return for a full refund.

Some stores that only allow you to exchange for an in store gift card will allow you to purchase a Visa gift card using their gift card, then the cash can be withdrawn from the Visa gift card.

Don't be nervous about returning merch, if they don't catch you in the act of stealing they really can't do anything after the fact.

How do I feel about stealing? Corporations, banks, churches and greedy individuals who steal from the poor and the homeless are like cancer that needs to be destroyed.

The founding fathers destroyed commercial cargo on British ships by throwing tea into the Boston Harbor. The equivalent today would be to board commercial vessels from China and throw the cargo into the Pacific ocean, to protest our trade policies/deficits, low tariffs, shipping jobs over-seas, corporate off shore tax havens, etc., etc. Shoplifting hits 'em where it hurts most, merchandise/money.